Heavy Metal on Vinyl: 10 Classics from Black Sabbath to Helloween

The most important heavy metal albums on vinyl, in our view, are: Black Sabbath "Paranoid", Ozzy Osbourne "Diary Of A Madman", Iron Maiden "The Number Of The Beast", Mercyful Fate "Melissa", Accept "Balls To The Wall", Metallica "Master Of Puppets", Megadeth "Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?", Candlemass "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", Helloween "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I" and Judas Priest "Painkiller". Together these ten records tell the story of metal from 1970 to 1990: from the heavy riff out of Birmingham through the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal to thrash, doom and German power metal. Many of them are still available as affordable pressings from the 80s.

In this article

• What defines classic heavy metal?
• The 10 most important heavy metal albums
• All 10 albums at a glance
• Original or reissue: which is worth it?
• FAQ

What defines classic heavy metal?

Heavy metal grew out of blues and hard rock in the late 60s, but became louder, darker and heavier. At its centre is the guitar riff: low, distorted and so catchy that you never forget it after one listen. Add powerful drums, often a high, forceful voice and lyrics about war, myth, madness and the occult.

In the 80s, metal split into many directions: the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) with Iron Maiden, fast thrash metal from California, slow and heavy doom from Sweden and melodic power metal from Germany. Our list reflects exactly this variety.

Which heavy metal albums should you know? Our top 10

1. Black Sabbath: Paranoid (1970)

For us, one of the best albums ever, and the starting point for everything that came after. Black Sabbath from Birmingham recorded their second album in just a few days. The standout is the opener "War Pigs": a slow, menacing anti-war epic with sirens, a massive riff from Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne's wailing voice. The whole album was originally going to be called "War Pigs", but in the middle of the Vietnam War the record company chose the more harmless title. Add "Paranoid", "Iron Man" and "Electric Funeral": hardly any album has delivered so many riffs that every guitarist still knows today.

For: everyone. If you want to understand metal, start here.

2. Ozzy Osbourne: Diary Of A Madman (1981)

After being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy found in Randy Rhoads a guitarist who combined classical music and metal like hardly anyone before him. "Diary Of A Madman" was the pair's second and last studio album, as Rhoads died in a plane crash in March 1982. "Over The Mountain" and "Flying High Again" show his exceptional talent.

For: guitar fans and anyone who loves Sabbath. Available from us as a UK original from 1981.

3. Iron Maiden: The Number Of The Beast (1982)

The first album with singer Bruce Dickinson, and the moment Iron Maiden became the biggest band of the NWOBHM. "Run To The Hills", the title track and the epic "Hallowed Be Thy Name" are among the best-known metal songs of all. The album went straight to number 1 in the UK, and Eddie on the cover became an icon.

For: anyone who loves galloping rhythms and twin guitar harmonies.

4. Mercyful Fate: Melissa (1983)

Copenhagen produced perhaps the eeriest band of the early 80s. King Diamond's falsetto, his stage make-up and the intricate guitar duels of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner turned "Melissa" into a cult album. Its occult tone later influenced entire scenes, all the way to black metal.

For: anyone who likes it theatrical and dark. Available from us as a Dutch pressing from 1989.

5. Accept: Balls To The Wall (1983)

The band from Solingen, fronted by Udo Dirkschneider, proved that metal from Germany could compete internationally. The stomping title track is still an anthem at every festival, and the album also gave Accept their breakthrough in the USA. Raw, direct and perfect for shouting along.

For: anyone looking for head-nodding riffs. Available from us as a UK/EU pressing from 1990. More German metal from the 80s: Warlock with "True As Steel" (German original).

6. Metallica: Master Of Puppets (1986)

For many, the best thrash metal album of all time. Metallica recorded it in Copenhagen with producer Flemming Rasmussen and combined breakneck speed ("Battery", "Damage, Inc.") with complex arrangements and melody. The title track runs for over eight minutes, and the instrumental "Orion" showcases bassist Cliff Burton, who died a few months after the release in the band's bus accident in Sweden.

For: anyone looking for metal that is both hard and well thought out.

7. Megadeth: Peace Sells… But Who's Buying? (1986)

Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica in 1983 and founded Megadeth. On their second album the band sounds faster, more technical and more cutting than almost all of their rivals. The title track's bassline is one of the best known in metal, and "Wake Up Dead" shows off the blistering guitar duels.

For: thrash fans who like it precise and cynical. Available from us as an EU original from 1986.

8. Candlemass: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)

While thrash kept getting faster, Candlemass from Stockholm went the opposite way: slow, heavy and epic. Bassist Leif Edling wrote the songs, and guest singer Johan Längquist delivered the operatic vocals. "Solitude" is still the anthem of doom metal. The album was first released on the French label Black Dragon, which is why the originals are French pressings.

For: fans of Sabbath's heavy side. Available from us as a French original from 1986.

9. Helloween: Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I (1987)

With this album, the Hamburg band more or less invented melodic power metal. Newcomer Michael Kiske sang high and bright, while the guitars of Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath delivered fast melodies. "Future World" became an anthem, and the 13-minute "Halloween" an epic. Released on the Berlin label Noise, German originals are still easy to find and surprisingly affordable.

For: anyone who loves metal with big melodies.

10. Judas Priest: Painkiller (1990)

To close the era, Judas Priest delivered their heaviest album. New drummer Scott Travis opens the title track with a drum intro every metal fan knows, and Rob Halford screams his way through heights that hardly any other singer can reach. For a long time it was Halford's last studio album with the band.

For: anyone who likes it fast, loud and uncompromising. Available from us as an EU reissue.

Also great, just not in the top 10: Slayer "Hell Awaits", King Diamond "Abigail", Manowar "Kings Of Metal", Savatage "Hall Of The Mountain King", Metallica "Ride The Lightning" and Iron Maiden "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" (EU original).

All 10 heavy metal albums at a glance

Album	Year	Country	Style
Black Sabbath: Paranoid	1970	England	Heavy metal (origins)
Ozzy Osbourne: Diary Of A Madman	1981	England	Heavy metal
Iron Maiden: The Number Of The Beast	1982	England	NWOBHM
Mercyful Fate: Melissa	1983	Denmark	Heavy metal, occult
Accept: Balls To The Wall	1983	Germany	Heavy metal
Metallica: Master Of Puppets	1986	USA	Thrash metal
Megadeth: Peace Sells…	1986	USA	Thrash metal
Candlemass: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus	1986	Sweden	Doom metal
Helloween: Keeper Of The Seven Keys I	1987	Germany	Power metal
Judas Priest: Painkiller	1990	England	Heavy / speed metal

Original or reissue: which metal pressing is worth it?

The good news for metal collectors: many 80s classics were pressed in large numbers in Europe and are still affordable as originals, often for 20 to 60 euros. Prices climb mainly for records from small runs, such as early doom albums or vinyl from the 90s, when almost everyone had already switched to CD. Our rule of thumb:

• For listening: an 80s pressing usually sounds excellent and often costs hardly more than a new reissue.
• For collecting: check the label, matrix number and inserts such as posters or lyric sheets, which often came with metal records. In our listings, "DE Original" means the German pressing from the time of the first release.
• Condition over rarity: a well-kept copy is more enjoyable than a worn-out original. We grade every used record to the Goldmine standard.

Read more in First Pressing or Reissue? How to Tell the Difference and How to Spot Valuable Vinyl Records.

Frequently asked questions about heavy metal on vinyl

What was the first heavy metal album?

Black Sabbath's 1970 debut is usually named. With "Paranoid", released the same year, the new sound was finally born.

Which heavy metal bands should you know?

Black Sabbath and Judas Priest laid the foundations in the 70s. Around 1980 the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal added Iron Maiden and Saxon, while in the US Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax shaped thrash metal as the "Big Four". From Germany, Accept, Helloween and the Scorpions belong on the list, from Scandinavia Mercyful Fate and Candlemass.

What is the difference between heavy metal and thrash metal?

Thrash metal emerged in the early 80s, mainly in California, and is much faster and more aggressive, with palm-muted, racing riffs and punk influences. The best-known bands are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.

What does NWOBHM mean?

The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was a wave of young British bands from around 1979 to 1983, including Iron Maiden, Saxon and Diamond Head. They combined the heaviness of Sabbath and Priest with the energy of punk.

Which metal album should I buy first?

Black Sabbath "Paranoid" is the best starting point, because this is where it all begins. If you like it faster, go for Iron Maiden "The Number Of The Beast" or Metallica "Master Of Puppets".

Why are some metal original pressings so expensive?

Because small labels often pressed only a few thousand copies, and because in the 90s many albums barely came out on vinyl at all. These records are rare today and in high demand.